Any thoughts on proper boat launch protocol? Step by step, what have you found has worked well in developing a good routine? What nightmares have you experienced or witnessed? Any advice is appreciated.

I've not heard of LEO ever towing a boat (at least not here in WI) Too much of a liability. I had a friend run out of gas and the Sheriff took him to the marina to load up a can and ran him back to the boat, but that was about it.
They have a nifty app called BoatUS that you can download from the Google Play or Itunes store. From the app they have nearby services, weather info, and "call for a tow"....
Might come in handy....

I struggled recently with this same question.
In the end, I went new.
As a first time boater, not knowing much, I looked high and low for a good dealer with a good service department. I asked friends, asked others on the lake for their recommendations.
Sure, if you've been boating for 20 years it's one thing. You feel comfortable working on engines? Fine.
But if neither of those are applicable to you, newer is the way to go. Try to find a "last years" new model. The dealers want to move these and most should come with a full warranty starting in the year of purchase.
It's a tough decision, no doubt. A ton of cash and let alone all the other expenses that add up along the way.
But in the end you're getting this for fun.
Worrying about what happens when things go wrong, isn't "fun." Put your mind at rest, go with new and you'll see that the extra 11k was worth it.
Don't be "penny-wise" and "dollar-foolish.."

Try this, I've found it works wonders on a variety of different stains...
50/50 water & white vinegar in a spray bottle.
put some baking soda directly on the stubborn spot and spray it once or twice to get it going.
use an old toothbrush and gently work the wet baking soda into the stain.
Let it sit for 5 minutes
Wipe it clean.
Should work, but if not you may need to hit it again only this time instead of the water & vinegar combo, try the juice of a lemon along with the backing soda.
use the toothbrush and work the lemon & baking soda mix into the stain.
Again, let it sit for 5 minutes
Wipe it clean.

Word of caution on fittings (it's my life's work)
Mixing metals is never a good idea.
Plastic is soft, so using a brass (non-ferrous material) might sound good, but it is VERY EASY to overtighten. When you overtighten you actually go past the point of thread engagement on the plastic part. By using excess teflon tape, you're now asking the tape to do something it wasn't designed to do.
If you have a brass base, then use a brass plug
If it is plastic, use a plastic plug.
Trust me..
And don't mix stainless steel with brass. Not a good idea mixing "ferrous and non-ferrous" metals. It promotes a "galvanic reaction" and corrosion starts.
Hope that helps.

thanks for the link.
I don't want to put a dedicated large trash can on board and just keeping garbage bags in the glove compartment isn't a good option that my wife likes.
I will show her this link..
Thanks again!

This is a great idea. Give newbies a great chance to connect with the owners of similar boats.
Some of the problems unique to their model of boat may or may not be relevant.
This shouldn't be that hard to do. The views and opinions along with myriad comments certainly helps Chaparral make better boats.
Why NOT do it?